Basic Blackjack Strategy

The game of Blackjack can be simple and it can be complicated, and even the complicated parts can be made simple!

The reason there’s such a wide range of complexity is because blackjack appeals to everyone. It’s a simple game for the man, or woman, who happens to wander into a casino whilst on vacation; and the complex can be made simple by the card counters who manage to turn the house edge on its head and earn a living.

It doesn’t matter if you make the game simple or complex, or whether you choose to play blackjack online with operators like PartyCasino or offline in a bricks and mortar casino; the goal is always the same. You need to beat the dealer, and you do so by getting as close to the underbelly of 21 as possible. In Blackjack, there is a mathematically correct way to play each hand and this is known as Basic Blackjack Strategy.

A basic Blackjack Strategy when followed at online casino sites can reduce the house edge to as low as one-half of a percent. It’s important that the rules are followed 100% of the time in order to take advantage of this house edge reduction. As there are a finite number of hand combinations that you and the dealer might be holding, there is a mathematically correct way to play every hand. This isn’t poker; there is no emotional imbalance or bluffing in Blackjack.

Each combination is shown on a Basic Blackjack Strategy card and when you are playing online it’s advisable to have a copy of this card on your computer for easy reference. The best way to describe Basic Blackjack Strategy is to show you an example.

Example

If you are dealt a six and a four you have a total of ten. If the dealer’s face up card is a four then you should double down. The maths is saying you are likely to hit a ten and therefore finish with a strong hand of twenty, and the dealer is also more likely to hit a series of tens and therefore is more likely to bust.

Basic Blackjack Strategy takes all of the decision making out of the game. Now, you might not think that’s much fun, but would you rather be a happy loser, or an unhappy winner? In Blackjack you must always take the latter. In Blackjack you must always use Basic Blackjack Strategy.